Thanks everyone, for your good suggestions! I usually draw a path around my images with the pen tool, then save it as a path. I can export with the clipping path into other applications and have a nice silhouette, but Flash is very different. I never tried making a transparent PNG - in fact, I haven't made ANY PNG's! I guess I should investigate that format. Is it generally smaller than an optimized GIF or JPG? Of course I can't export JPGs with transparency <darn>. In those cases when I want to use a JPG, is there any way to create a mask for that image? I can see myself using alot of JPGs because I use alot of photos in my work.

Any ideas on how to create a working mask? I tried making it with circles and squares but that didn't work. Does it have to be one large filled image or can I make it with several 'pieces' that are grouped together?

I'm going to try making transparent GIFs and PNGs today and see how they work. I'll probably get the jaggies on the GIFs but it should help to eliminate at least some of the work in cleaning up the edges.

Thanks, everyone!